Love - sew retro!

8 x  8 mixed media & acrylic on deep set canvas.

One word.

Those of you who have followed my blog for more than a year will be familiar with my annual tradition of choosing a single word, as my annual resolution, rather than making a list.

This will be my seventh year in a row of choosing and declaring a word to guide my year, so I think I can accurately call it a tradition.

The idea came from Christine Kane, whose blog I visited many years ago. Essentially, she believes that long lists of resolutions frequently fail because they are too many and varied, but that a single word could guide our success and our growth in every area of our lives, because of its simplicity, and the ease with which one can return to a single word for inspiration, guidance and power.

My words have chosen me as much as I have chosen them these past six years. I don't know how to describe this, but somehow, a word will seem to appear, almost like a theme for me... in the articles I read, in the art I make, in converations I have, and I just know.

These have been my words for the past six years...
health
wealth
believe
authentic
power
discipline

For 2014, my word is both the most simple and the most complex. The one about which songs and poems and novels are written. The four letter word we all need and want to give and receive.

love ...  it is the essence of everything, really. Self respect is love. Caring for the earth is love. Committing fully to one's purpose is a form of love. Babies and children are love, of course -- and dogs, for sure. Our families, our jobs and homes, our communities. The world we live in and the one we create for ourselves will always reflect the love we give to everyone and everything.

So there it is.

I wish you love.

Evidence...

...of creativity. 

December 4, 6 pm. The night was chilly. The house was warm, with a fire crackling in the living room. (in the fireplace, of course.) Lots of food, lots of fun and lots of camera-shy artists, apparently.

We had a full class, but most of the participants are outside of this frame. Aside from the art we made that night, this is my only piece of evidence. I am not good at stopping mid-creativity to take pictures, so this was it!!

Stay tuned for more classes after the holidays. I am thinking of a class called To Dye For...which would include staining tags and muslin, dying ribbons, etc.

I am also thinking about a mixed media class using wood, cut into simple house shapes. I had to replace my fence this fall, and I love the idea of repurposing some of the old, weathered pieces.
I have borrowed my friend Peggy's scroll saw to cut the pieces. (Thanks again, Peggy, for the saw & the demo!) This is a new power tool for me, and if I like it, I may have to buy my own.

Stay tuned. I will have more class info after the holidays. And to my long-distance blog visitors, I will be back soon with my "word of the year" post, and more!

Dec 4 class is full - thank you for signing up! I can't wait to see you all!!

(At My) Home for the Holidays...a Christmas Project Class

So here it is, friends. A three-hour class, with three very different projects. Class fee of $30 includes light refreshments and all materials except gel medium & gesso, which I ask students to bring along.

Both space and materials are limited, so I can only accommodate 8 in this one-time only class. Leave a message here or email me if you are interested. I will let you know if I you're in, or if the class is full. Below are the details...

Wednesday, December 4, 2013
6-9 pm, at my home, in Latham

Project details:
Project #1 is a wine cork reindeer ornament/package topper (great to put over the neck of a wine gift!).

Project #2 is a gift tag/mini hanger made with a vintage bingo card.

Project #3 is a mixed media winter scene on an 8 x 8 deep set canvas. Choose from 2 designs: Christmas tree (pictured above) or snowman.

Holiday inspiration...

Bleached bottle brush trees, jute, burlap, shipping tags, and printed papers. Just a few of my finds at the craft store yesterday. I am feeling inspired to do some fun holiday projects, and maybe even a class or a demo video. Stay tuned!!

Fall...

Words to live by

Colors...

As an avid photographer, my friend Lisa has an eye for composition, color and shape. This is another of the photos she took the day we went to Woodstock. On the left is her image, of a stack of plates at Taco Juan's. Just for fun, I applied a painterly filter in Photoshop to the image on the right.

And this was the hand dryer in the ladies room near the municipal parking lot. We loved the "instructions" added by a previous visitor to accompany the visuals.

In case you can't see clearly, 1. press button. 2. Receive bacon. 3. Don't forget to get some up your nose as well. (Sadly, the hand dryer was out of bacon the day we visited. Probably because we discovered that most of the restaurants don't serve meat!!)

Not so heavy metal...

If you are like most artists and creative souls who find inspiration in everything from traditional art supplies to a rusty piece of metal on the side of the road, then you probably have stuff among your art supplies that you had to have, but haven't gotten around to using yet.

For some, the collecting of stuff, new and old, for potential art making may be just fine, regardless of the outcome, but for others, all of that great stuff starts to make us feel guilty if we don't eventually use it to make something!!

For me, (and I don't think I am unique), this guilt is in direct relation to how much I spent on that "stuff." The yard sale score or the free castoff that I picked up on the side of the road causes no guilt at all, but the complete set of collector's edition fancy schmancy art tools in its original storage case that sits for years in a corner of my art room practically makes me hyperventilate when I dare glance in its direction.

And yet, the thought of selling it or giving it away is nearly impossible when I remember all creative ideas it fueled -- all of the potential projects that spun around in my head when I took the class or saw the demo that made me feel as though I "MUST have this, NOW!!"

So Halloween day was spent with my friend Lisa, who knows exactly how this feels, because on this day, she busted out one of HER gotta-have-it-right-now sets of tools from Ten Seconds Studio, that she had to have several years ago...and we USED the crap out it!!

Here's peek at some of the fun...

Woodstock in October...

A few weeks ago, the BF and I took a road trip through the town of Woodstock, NY, as we headed to Bethel, the actual site of the famous 1969 concert. I had hoped that we would actually STOP in the town of Woodstock, as we passed through, but the BF is not really into the artsy, giftsy shops in town, so I made a note to self to return with someone who shared my love of art & shopping...

My good friend (and great photographer) Lisa and I took a trip down yesterday, and here are just a few of the sights we captured along the way.... (L to R, top to bottom)...

1,2. It may look like just a simple string being tied around my wrist, but in reality, it's a prosperity bracelet. We bought them at a little shop called Timbuktu. The salesperson/mystic explained how they work...we are to keep them on until they wear off. When they finally wear off, we need to bury the bracelet either beneath a tree or cast the bracelet into a body of water, keeping our intention of prosperity in mind. -- Lisa is already worried that we will not know when our bracelets wear off, and we will lose them. I am wondering if flushing the thing down the toilet is the same as casting it out to sea?

3. Now these are, indeed, spools of string/thread, with no magical prosperous intentions of which I am aware. They were shelved next to several looms, where scarves and blankets are woven.

4,9 . A free form mosaic birdhouse and mosaic dog(?), along Tinker Street. In addition to typical mosaic pieces from broken plates & cups, you can see an amazing assortment of broken figurines and porcelain pieces. Not exactly my cup of tea (pun intended), but definitely interesting.

5. A leaf, found under a tree outside one of the shops. Is it my imagination, or does this look like tie dye?

6. A leaf shaped stone sidewalk.

7. Sips Dips & Sugarlips - Our first stop, for coffee, when we arrived in town at 10:30 am. - None of the other shops opened before 11-ish.

8. A street sign, which has been guerilla-knitted (see the signpost.). I had never seen this before. Very cool.

It was a fun, but chilly day, so while we will return, we may wait until the springtime, by which time, we will be much more prosperous, as a result of our bracelets!!!!!

True confession - I love horoscopes...

...and fortune cookies...and palm readings, and tarot cards. I am not big into psychics, after seeing a total crackpot down in Woodstock when I was in my early twenties, but a well-written horoscope inspires me.

My favorite is the weekly by Rob Brezney. He's been writing them for more than 28 years, and he's published in 120 different periodicals, including our local independent weekly, Metroland, where I originally found him. His horoscopes are part literary reference and part puzzle, which always intrigues me. Also I think he really has the Libra sign down. Or else I am also just a crackpot.

This is my latest, for which I created a quick digital collage, using one of my heart paintings. I think it is timely...

"The door to the invisible must be visible," wrote the surrealist spiritual author Rene Daumal. This describes an opportunity that is on the verge of becoming available to you. The opportunity is still invisible simply because it has no precedents in your life; you can't imagine what it is. But just recently a door to that unknown realm has become visible to you. I suggest you open it, even though you have almost no idea what's on the other side. 

Stamp carving + art journaling = fun evening ahead!

I've been invited by my good friend Melanie to demo stamp carving techniques for her monthly art journal club tonight. I don't do much stamp carving these days, but whenever I do, I am reminded of how relaxing and fun it is. I also love the actual carvings - a little primitive and rough.

Here's a quick background page I stamped with one of my carvings today, and on the right are some stamps I've carved over the years. I carved the owl last night, in preparation for this demo, but the swirly pattern made for a good background on the page above. 

All you need to carve a stamp...
Carving tool --
One with at least one U tip and one V tip - I like several additional tips for details, but those two are enough to get started. You can find them at any art or craft store.

Carving material --
I like Speedball Speedy Carve (it's pink).

Draw an image on your carving block -- or, if you don't think you can draw (you can, but that's a blog post for another day), you can transfer an image to the block.

Plain old photocopies work best, but you can use an inkjet image (the transfer will be lighter, but usable). Laser prints do not work.

Nail polish remover - the regular acetone kind
a cotton ball

Other tools/materials to have on hand: 
ruler, x-acto knife, scissors, scrap paper, ink pad(s) 

Cut out the photocopy image you wish to carve. Place it face-down onto your carving material.
Using nail polish remover on a cotton ball, transfer the image by rubbing from the back of the photo copy until it is saturated. Peel up a corner to peek and see if image has transferred. If not, keep soaking/rubbing until image transfers.

Decide which part of the image you want to keep and which part to take away (positive vs. negative space). I like to also leave bits of carving material at the edges to enhance the hand-carved look. Test the image by stamping onto scrap paper to see what emerges as you carve away pieces. Continue until you are satisfied with your carving.

Tips: 
It is not necessary to carve deep gouges to get an impression.
A V tip with a light touch will create the thinnest lines.
Deeper gouges and the U tip will create wider areas.

Practice will give you a feel for the material. I encourage newbies to start with something simple - a leaf, a heart -- something that is identifiable by it's shape and a few details, even if your carving technique is still rough. Select more detailed, challenging images as your technique improves.

Most of all, enjoy the process.

Sneak peek...

Some new illustrations in the works...

My days are filled with online classes to help me learn more about the business of art, as well as making ART, of course. When I am not drawing, I am working on expanding my online presence, writing, marketing and having minor panic attacks about it all!!

Art is everywhere...

How I spent my Sunday... (Part I)

These rock carvings are etched into the cliffs at the site of the Catskill Mountain House, in Hunter Mountain, which just happens to be the backdrop of my childhood home in Palenville, New York.

The Mountain House itself, which was an amazing hotel that hosted artists and dignitaries throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, was deliberately burned down by the State in January, 1963, after falling into extreme disrepair -- but the site, nestled in the Catskill Mountains, still provides one of the most beautiful views of the Hudson River Valley, and is surrounded by hiking trails, waterfalls, and incredible natural beauty. (I'll have more photos to share later this week).

I particularly liked the carving in the left-hand corner... "KIM WILL YOU MARRY ME."

Some might find this gesture incredibly romantic, but if you saw how close this was to the edge of the cliff, you would know that she had no choice but to say yes.

But seriously, the printing etched into the cliffs here is amazingly neat and precise, and you can see evidence that it is a tradition that has been going on for many decades.

Our second stop was Kaaterskill Falls. I will share more photos of that stop soon!!

Mixing it up....

A little Photoshop fun combining one of my heart paintings with one of my girls...

 Another amazing fall weekend. We are headed down to my hometown, nestled in the breathtaking Catskill Mountains.

Quote...

What others think of you 

is none of your business.

-- I saw this quote on my friend Annette's Facebook page recently, and I love it. I don't think I am alone in admitting that I spend way too much time (a.k.a -- any) worrying about what other people might think.

Of course, as I get older, I am much less guilty than I was when I was younger. One of the blessings of age and maturity is learning to be yourself and to stand for what you believe in, regardless of what others may think of you.

But what I loved about this particular quote was the perspective. Because the larger subtext of this quote is --  

What I think of myself is my business. And this should be where I devote my energies. Am I doing what feels right to me? And if the answer is yes, then it's still the right thing. Even if everyone else thinks otherwise.

So I am minding my own business.

Repurposed!

 Some call it upcycled. 

Whatever you call it, I love it when something old or discarded finds new life. I particularly love it when that something is transformed into something entirely different and wonderful.

In this case, I didn't transform the piece at all, but I still love it.

Like so many parts of the country, we've experienced some severe weather in recent months -- mostly heavy rainstorms, flash flooding and even a few tornadoes. One of these storms in late spring blew my back fence down. After determining that it could not be repaired, I just had it replaced, but like so many artists and creative types, (you know who you are!!), I could not bear to part with the old fence.

The posts holding it up were rotted, as well as the pegs into which it connected, but the sides were sturdy and had aged to a wonderful gray patina. So the fence company left all the sides at my request, neatly sectioning them and leaning them along the side of my shed.

Today, one of them is now on my front porch, as a backdrop to my wicker furniture. The rest still lean patiently beside my shed, waiting for inspiration and transformation. Thanks to Pinterest, I have lots of ideas!

The impending death of cursive...

I read very recently that Cursive is no longer a part of the Common Core State Standards followed by 45 of our 50 states, which means that many public schools are using this time to teach technology skills. I was at first shocked to read this, and then just plain saddened.

OMG   WTF   LMFAO

...Seriously, we don't even use actual words in many of our common "written" communications anymore, so I don't know why this came as a surprise to me.

Although I do keep a sporadic written journal, done in pretty messy cursive, I will admit that for ease and readability, I type, text, keyboard -- whatever you want to call it -- much more often than I put actual pen to paper.

Still, I love handwriting. I appreciate words of thanks and support and notes from friends in all their forms, from email to Facebook and blog comments, but a personal note, written in perfect penmanship or a messy scribble, will always be more special to me.

And from the sounds of it, our little handwritten missives will someday be priceless ephemera, when no one knows how to hold a pen anymore. 

Coping with uncertainty...

I read an article the other day that began with this:

"According to Dante's Inferno, Limbo is the first circle of Hell."

The funny part was that this quote comforted me. It's nice to know that we're not alone in our struggles, and that in spite of the world of differences that separate us from our ancestors, some basic truths remain.

Uncertainty and ambiguity are unsettling. Period. It is okay to go through moments of joy, fear, panic, and calm, all in one day (sometimes, all in one hour). It's been happening to people forever. And we get through it.

I am busy creating some new illustrations and also a new round of heart paintings that I will be offering for sale, in a variety of ways, very soon! That is the good stuff. The stuff that keeps my head in the stars, but my feet planted firmly on the ground during these uncertain times.

There's also a country song that goes something like this...
"if you're going through hell, keep on going...you might get out 'fore the devil even knows you're there."

So, I've gotta run!!
One of my most recent heart paintings:
12 x12 - Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
What the future brings

Simple pleasures, simple treasures...

Some of my favorite finds from a perfect fall day with two of my favorite people. Painted tin bucket, metal basket & rolled papers from the Artifacts Store in Melrose, NY. 

Dry sink cabinet from a new favorite place... Stitches and Time in Schuylerville, NY.

And great memories that make me smile everyday.

And...?

 

This is a partial view of my fireplace mantel. I found this giant distressed ampersand over the summer, and, being a punctuation mark, it kind of spoke to me. Like literally. It said, (this is going to surprise you), it said...

AND...?

 I know. Right? But seriously, even though my high school English teacher would say that a conjunction cannot be a sentence and a question all by itself, I knew what it was asking me.

Now what?
What's next, Kerri?
Yes, you're pretty happy, but why stop? You know you want more.
And...?

So this two-foot ampersand is not just a beautiful big piece of punctuation, it does what punctuation does best. It stops me. It emphasizes. And, more subtle than a question mark, it reminds me that I still have so many questions to answer. So many possible ways to end the sentence.

Stuff I wish I liked.

 So enough about my worries and fears... a walk on the whimsical side today...

A friend recently posted on Facebook that she was going apple-picking with her family. I smiled at the thought.

But then another thought occurred to me. I really don't like apple-picking.

I've been apple-picking. I think it's kind of boring, and I don't care much whether I've actually plucked an apple from a tree or not. What I like is the IDEA of apple-picking. I like apples, and apple crisp and apple pie. I like the ride to an orchard, on a crisp, sunny fall day. I love the little country orchard stores, with their jams and jellies and handmade crafts, the aroma of cinnamon in the air.

But I really don't care to pick apples. It tends to be colder under the trees, and the ground is covered with mushy apples that I don't want to step in. I prefer to buy a bushel that has been picked and packed for me back in that cute little country orchard store.

And this made me think about other things that I don't really like but I so desperately WANT to -- because of the ideas and images and rituals attached to them. Here are a few of them:

Tea. 
What's not to love about tea? I love everything about tea, except for, well, drinking it. I love teabags, steeping in hot water, their artsy tags dangling. I love the amazing, exotic array of tea flavors. I love loose tea, and those adorable infusers that actual tea-drinkers get to use. I love tea packaging -- seriously --  those Republic of Tea canisters are irresistible. I love tea-drinkers (Fran). They are consistently hip people. But alas, I really don't like tea.

Major League Baseball.
Young athletes in uniform. Joe Girardi (sigh). Ball caps, baseball stadiums, logos, team colors, competition. What's not to love? Except, for me, the game itself. This actually applies, in my case, to virtually every sport. I could not care less. Big balls. Little balls. No balls. Balls being thrown, kicked, tossed, hit, bounced, volleyed. Lines crossed, nets penetrated. It stirs nothing in me. But I love the IDEA of a ball game. I love a trip to Yankee Stadium! The iconic shape of the stadium itself, the fans all decked out in Yankee t-shirts and ball caps, Joe Girardi (sigh again). But the game itself? The score? I have to remind myself to watch while I am sitting there scanning the crowd in the hopes of seeing a famous person actually watching the game. (PS, Joe Girardi, if you are reading this, I am kidding, of course!! I live for baseball. Go Yankees!! ;o)

Seafood.
It comes in so many shapes and sizes and colors and preparations. Filets, claws, shells, caviar! Whole fancy restaurants are devoted to it. The best vacation places thrive on it. And it's good for you. I love watching Iron Chefs making everything from appetizers to dessert out of it. But yuck. Really. My palate just won't cooperate with my eyes on this one...with the unique exception of fried calamari, dipped in maranara (I know).

There are, of course many others... (classical music, exercise, meditation, yoga...) What about you? I am sure I am not alone in this. Happy Hump Day!!! :o)

No seriously, Joe. I LOVE baseball. xox

Acknowledging fear...

As I begin to devote my time and energy to the business of art, I am forced to stare my fears in the face.

Up until very recently, I believed I should ignore my fears rather than admit to them. I thought that admitting I was afraid would feed my fears, and give them power. But I've found out that the opposite is true.

So I've been asking myself, "What are you really afraid of?" I had thought that my biggest fear was of failure. Obviously, I don't want to fail at my dream of making a living as an artist. I want enough success to sustain me, my artistic soul, my home, and my life.

But what I found as I listened to myself (those voices in my head) is that even bigger than my fear of failure was a fear of success. I am taking an e-class by Kelly Rae Roberts, called Flying Lessons, and I am keeping a journal as I follow this amazing e-book, and this is what poured out one night, while working on Part I...

"My biggest fear is that I will outgrow my current life -- that my dreams will grow too big for this little, safe, comfortable place that I inhabit in the world. And my other biggest fear is that because of that fear, I won't try hard enough. I will squash my dreams and silence them until they die. Until I die."

And now that I've acknowledged these fears, it's not nearly as scary. I still have moments of doubt, but now that have owned up to it, I see it coming. And I am dealing with it, rather than letting it crush me.

(PS - Thank you for your friendship and supportive comments - particularly lately - I have needed it more than I may show. I am so fortunate and grateful to know you all.)

You see, I love this little space I occupy in the world. (Front porch, September 2013).

New beginnings...

I know that fall in upstate New York is the precursor to a very long, cold winter, but September still always represents a rebirth to me. The fresh, cold air makes me feel alive. Watching the little ones go off to their first days of school with new backpacks and new shoes makes me nostalgic for all of those firsts so many years ago. Although I generally did not love school, I was always so hopeful on those first few days that THIS would be a great year.

It's also my birth month. I have found, as I near the last year of my fourth decade, that most people my age do not enjoy acknowledging and celebrating their birthdays much, but I am that exception. I like to celebrate as much and as many times as possible for the whole month of September, and I justify every treat I allow myself during this month -- from new boots to a trunkload of pumpkins -- by saying "it's my birthday!" In fact, I have started referring to September 1 as opening day for my birthday festivities, which I gladly accept and celebrate through midnight, September 30.

This year, however, I've been in a bit of a funk during my favorite month, with worries about my current joblessness, and with that, questions about what I want to do when I grow up.

I know at least some of the answers. And they involve some big (scary) risks and some big (exciting) changes, to live the life that feeds my soul, as well as my body. I will be sharing more very soon...

Meanwhile,  a glimpse at a perfect day...  the trunk of my car, filled with the festive colors of fall...

Nine Eleven

The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace. -- Carlos Santana

Fun with fungus

Some photoshop fun with a picture of some 'shrooms growing on a tree stump at Albany Rural. The top left image is the original. The others are the result of playing around with hue, saturation and an artistic cutout filter...

Albany Rural Cemetery...

Of all the beautiful sights at my favorite cemetery, (and there are many), I love the Celtic cross headstones most of all. The strong, straight lines and symmetrical patterns stand in start contrast to the haphazard beauty of nature that surrounds them.

Here's a photo I snapped yesterday, along with a Photoshop-altered version...

Quiet your mind...(without checking, I think I have used this title before, Mea Culpa)

 "soak it all in, it's a game you can't win.
Enjoy the ride." -- Zac Brown Band

I have been reading a bit about the ego and the ego mind, and how my thoughts are just manifestations of my ego. How they are not reality. How, if I just stopped listening to them, I would be at peace.

I know this. I think most of us have been exposed to enough new age-y meditation-y stuff to get this, in the abstract, at least. 

But when I listen to my internal dialogue, I am so convincing. How can what I am thinking NOT be true? And if thoughts are meaningless, then what else is there? How do we put one foot in front of the other? How do we go about our days if we can't trust our own thoughts? (How can I be writing this?!)

I am not good at quieting my mind. I mean, really. I can't quiet my mouth, so it's not a reasonable expectation. I totally suck at meditation in the traditional sense. I just don't get it. My breathing is not fascinating enough to hold my focus. Even heavy breathing.

I understand the joy of being in the moment. I am just awful at staying there. I am compelled to evaluate the past moment and to anticipate the next moment. In my head. With varying degrees of intensity.

We all have internal dialogues. Most of the time, (if we are lucky,) they are the innocuous and helpful kind that help us to get through our day... lists of things we need to do, internal evaluations of past events, and plans for upcoming activities.

But what happens when the evaluation of yesterday's disagreement becomes an ongoing dialogue in your head? And you start staging a new argument? What happens when you attempt, in your mind, to rewrite the past, or manipulate the future, over and over again? I will tell you what...

ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY NOTHING DIFFERENT.

You are still in exactly the same place, except now you are angry or upset about things that have not happened. And are probably not even likely to happen.

So I know that this new age-y, meditation-y, "in the moment" stuff has merit.

And at least during the time I am writing this or am engaged in a creative activity, I am here, and not there. 

Sweeping the cobwebs from my blog...

Yaaaawn.That was quite a nap.

So the big news these days for me is that for the first time in exactly 30 years, I am without a job. I realize that means I am both old and fortunate, to have had steady work for all that time.

I was laid off recently, and I am learning a lot about myself in the process. Change teaches us so much about ourselves that we fail to recognize when we are just going through our regular daily routines.

Change forces us to notice things. It makes us face our fears. It makes us ask ourselves questions about our lives, our dreams and our goals. It makes us summon our strengths and admit to our weaknesses.

It's been just short of a month since my job was eliminated.

Week one came on the heels of vacation, so I spent it doing laundry and yard work and all of those domestic chores that one needs to catch up on after being away.

Week two was not as good. I was grumpy, lethargic, aimless. I had lots to do. Anyone who both owns a home and is looking for a job always has plenty to do. Now I had absolutely no excuse to avoid that long list of things that I could justify not getting done when I was working. Yuck.

Week three I came to the realization that I need some routines and structure. So that is where I am now. Creating new routines. Catching up with old friends. Trying some new things; using this time I have as a gift, and trying not to waste a minute of it. (Pinterest is NOT wasting time!)

I plan to venture out into some new art territory, of course, and I will share what I can with you, here.  If my art could be my next line of work, that would be outrageously awesome. (Note to local employers who may be looking at my resume -- your job would be awesome too!! )

I don't care so much if the long list of house chores is still there. Really, there is always one more thing to add to that list.

Meanwhile this guy is very happy that I am spending more time at home...

A new year...

I was down and out with a cold on New Year's Eve, but I did not mind. I discovered that the minor discomfort and fatigue gave me permission to just do nothing without feeling guilty. Okay, not entirely nothing. I really embraced Pinterest during my down time! Now to make the time to use some of that inspiration in my daily life!

I am fortunate to rebound pretty quickly, so I've tidied the house & tucked away Christmas for another year.

Busy putting my word to work for me ... discipline... it applies to just about every area of my life. It sounds like a stern and scary word, but I am learning that the gift it bestows is time and freedom later. We shall see!!